, 1887-05-18
and had paid frequent visits to the latter's
home in rOoklvn

NoHSJ wv 800 ASANH
house Friday, intending to stay several
weeks. She was in unusually good spirits
and amused the family Friday night with
her bright talk and stories. Saturday she
took lunch with Mrs. Nichols and her
daughter at 2 o'clock, and then retired to
her own room while Miss Nichols wrote a
letter. After waiting 90 minutes for her
guest to return Miss Nichols started to GO
to her rOOm, and when half way up the
stairs heard a sharp pistol report. She
hurried to Miss Lesley doorfana knocked,
but receiving no response forced her way
in. Her young friend was lying on the
floor beside a table, unconscious. Blood
was trickling from "a wound III her right
temple, and on the 1OOr by her side lay u
revolver. The Mortified girl called for
help, and IA servant was sent for physici-
clans. DrS. RuShmOre, S&ene, and Hut
Crimson were soon bending overthe patient,
but their etfO! Is to arouse her were in vain.
She died about / O'Clock, not having re-
gained consciousness
Notice of the Shooting was sent to the
COrOner's office, buj, although it was then
early i'll the day-abOut AIS ~O'clock-the
Coroner was not personally informed OF
the matter, and the case was suppressed
ny some one. Even the police were not
given notice until 24 hours Later. In con
sequence of this delay the inquest WAS not
heW untll yesterday m1rnilg, when COro-
ner Rooney went to the house aud took the
testimony of every one, ThiS testimony put
an end to The SuppOsitiOn Of suicide, and the
jury rendered II verdict of accidental death
Whlle handling a loaded revolver.
MISS Nichols aud her mDther and father
were witnesses, and told of Miss LeSley's
behaviour while in their company, her
~JoSIulleSS and seeming happiness, and
me story OF the discovery OF the wounded
girl. Miss Nichols declared that her friend
had never suffered from any love affair
during their acquaintance of six years.
She always carried a revolver, Miss. Nichols
said. None OF these witnesses: had
ever before seen the pistol from which the
shot was fired. 1t did not belong to ANY
one in the house.
Robert ". Lesley, the only brother Of
the dead girl, who is q prominent lawyer
III, Philadelphia, arrived at Mr.. Nichols
house late Saturday nigllt.anl Was IL wit
moss at the inquest. Ee Last saw his sis
ter as he was leaving home Friday morn.
ing, and the last words sac Addressed to
him were used i'll repeating a joke she had
heard the night before at Il reception.
She was one of the ~liveliest girls in Phi
l1deIphIa," said Mr. Lesley. "Sho was an
expert swimmer, q fine tennis player, and
Il crack shot. She always carried a revOl.
yer, and only q few months ago won a rifle
IN a shooting match at home. last Sum
mer while staying la tile AdirondackS,
she shot "a drer,a feat of which she was very
prOud. She always cleaned and cared
for his pistols, and invariably carried one
with her when she travelled She could
make nine buIrS eyes out of a possible ten
any time. | am convinced that lrr death
was the result Of an accident" His sister,
Mr.. Lesley said, had never been engaged
to be married, and none of the young
gentlemen in Philadelphia had paid her
marked attentions. There were always II
good many of them at the house in the
evenings, bat al stood on an equality.
Dr. j. d. Ru ,hmore testified that from
the upward course of the bullet i'll the
wound, which WAS in the right temple, he
was of opinion that the wound bad been
self inflicted. On this statement of the
case the jury based its virdict. The jury
was composed. of near neighb0rs of Mr..
Nichols = Samuel Mclean, AlansOn q,
Trask, William A. Halliday, George X.
Church, james. Mclean, AMI A. II. Mas
ters.
The dead girl Was 2lyearsfQG age and
unusually pretty. She Was well deyelop-
ed physically; bad dark hair and black,
piercing eyes. She was, in addition to-
her atlll tic accomplishments, . fine 1nltisicl'
an and her services as singer. aud viOH.